Member input wanted! New WS&S Rules Thread

k_estela

k_estela

Co-Moderator, Wilderness and Survival Skills Forum
Moderator
Joined
Feb 23, 2001
Messages
2,101
After E-mailing back and forth with Brian J, we decided to make a sticky thread for the new rules of the WS&S Forum effective 2009. Rather than creating them on our own, we are asking all of you for your input. The forum is yours and we are just here to keep things civil. Now is your chance to shape the WS&S Forum to your liking. If you have an idea for a WS&S rule, post it here. If you want to see one changed, post it here. We're looking for your input.

(UPDATE: AFTER READING THROUGH THIS THREAD AGAIN, I'VE DECIDED TO UNSTICK THIS TOPIC. THERE WAS A LOT OF GREAT DISCUSSION AND SUGGESTIONS. I DON'T SEE ANY MAJOR CHANGES ON THE HORIZON AND INFORMALLY, YOU GUYS ARE ALREADY CHANGING THE WAY THE FORUMS LOOK WITH THE LATEST POSTS I'VE READ)
 
Last edited:
Just to get this thread going, here is what I would like to see.

New posters to this thread should introduce themselves before pushing/promoting gear.

Links to other websites within threads should have a brief explanation of what the link is about.

More knife reviews from users and fewer from knife makers. I don't want the WS&S forum to become a knife gallery when appropriate forums are set up for that and makers can set up their own forum here if interested.
 
one should own a knife before reccomending it

read the OP question. i have seen some pretty outlandish responses that have nothing to do with anything posted in the thread.

these are more like guidlines i guess, because there is no real way to enforce them, but hopefully this thread will get enough traffic so that most people see my thoughts.
 
when quoting a response with several pics, delete the pics that have nothing to do with your response, so that the computer dosent have to load the same things twice.
 
I knew it wouldn't take too long for a "mall ninja" to be mentioned. I like the idea of deleting the pictures if replying to them in a quote. I think this thread will generate some serious humor. Keep 'em coming.
 
I like your ideas so far, Kevin. No problem with those.

For others making recommendations, keep in mind the difference between a rule and a courtesy or preference.
 
I think the minute of of these the best chopper thread comeing along, you either watch it closly or close it, they get out of hand, and fast. alot of negative input is allways produced and that gets us nowhere.

I dont know how many tims that has come up, its one thing to make a review on something you did and have positive debate on it, but every time I see knife vs axe, or what ever it ends up pissin people off, there are enough of thouse threads in the past, just go back a few pages.
 
k_estela said:
Links to other websites within threads should have a brief explanation of what the link is about.

More knife reviews from users and fewer from knife makers. I don't want the WS&S forum to become a knife gallery when appropriate forums are set up for that and makers can set up their own forum here if interested.
Click to expand...

Links to ANYTHING should really have some kind of label or explanation, just as a courtesy to the rest of us. For example, a link to a knife or piece of gear could be accompanied by the maker/manufacturer and name or number of that model.

If posts really belong somewhere else we can move them, but it's nice to have W&SS information all together here if possible. But you are right, especially since Spark is now offering even better deals for knifemaker forums now. BFC Membership Drive for servers: Knifemaker's Forums, Lower $ for Dealers, giveaways
 
I agree with all off the suggestions so far.

The one about owning a knife before you recommend it would be nice but I am not sure how it would be enforced. I am also not sure that not owning a knife should preclude you from recommending it if it fits the criteria that someone sets forth.
 
BarberFobic1992 said:
one should own a knife before reccomending it

read the OP question. i have seen some pretty outlandish responses that have nothing to do with anything posted in the thread.
Click to expand...

Any time we recommend a knife, we can mention how it's worked out for us, or if we're writing based on handling it a bit, or if we're just impressed with the specs.

Oh, boy, is it important to READ the original question. :) Also to read the responses to it before adding your own. A lot of guys read the OP and then answer, with a whole bunch of intervening answers that took care of it. That's a BF-wide problem.
 
I think folks should be able to post their own opinions without someone else trying to start an argument. We are all adults, most of us have been on several forums. Some folks tend to start bashing others and going off topic because someone likes or dislike a certain item.
In real life we all have opinions, most come from some kind of personal experience, you don't see people yelling in the streets over one driving a Chevy and one driving a Toyota. Why do it here over knives and tools or gear? Manners I guess.

This does not apply to mall ninja's though. They should be roughed up a bit :)
 
This is such a tough one to deal with. I do not envy the moderators on this one.

My opinion is that the more rules there are, the harder they are to enforce, and in the end, the less interested users there will be.

IMO, the optimum would be, forget about all the other stuff, and stick to fact. If you start going on off on opinion, speculation, etc, then the post is not worth much, regardless if you are selling something yourself, or recommending someone for a service.

If you can present a post/arguement in a factual way, then it should be allowed. If you provide nothing but speculation and opinion, who decides the value? The forum members, or the moderators? I sure wouldn't want to make that call. Unfortunately, this is the internet, and you are not going to avoid opinion, speculation and other such nonsense.

I say, save the rules for the forums that have people less inclined to use their brain for themselves. After all, we have moderators here who work for establishments that make money off of member here. Every time they make a post, is that a recommendation for their establishment? So, where do we draw the line?

I do not mean to start any arguments. However, if we start enforcing "rules" I think it is something that is going to have to be done equally, or it can get quite ugly.

In general, I think this is one of the best internet crowds to be around. We don't start bashing, we don't start arguments, and we all seem open to difference of opinions. IMO, that is what really matters.

B
 
I wouldn't get too hung up on the term "rules". We are looking for ideas that will smooth the transfer of information. People fall into habits, sometimes posting very briefly or without thinking through what they want to say or presenting an opposing view aimed at the previous poster rather than at that poster's idea.

We're not going to be handing out infractions over this. As you said, this is a good group. But it's always good to step back and think about how we do things. In business, it's called "getting back to basics" and sometimes it really does clear out the dust in the corners. :)
 
Esav Benyamin said:
People fall into habits, sometimes posting very briefly or without thinking through what they want to say
Click to expand...

If we are going to have moderators looking and checking out those types of comments, then we better get MANY more, and it will be a full time job.

Esav Benyamin said:
I wouldn't get too hung up on the term "rules"........

We're not going to be handing out infractions over this.
Click to expand...

Either something is going to be done to change habit, in which case a rule will have to be defined and enforced, or else nothing will happen. If nothing is going to happen, then what are we discussing?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top